Child's Play

The wee girl convinced me to spend about $7 on a "Fuzzy Felt-esque" set at Officeworks yesterday. The fun lasted as long as it took her to separate all the half-stamped-out shapes from the squares of felt and pile them onto the board.

I thought perhaps she needed a bigger ocean, so gave her a large piece of acrylic felt (bought off the roll at Spotlight) and my felt scraps.

She designed a night-time scene of houses by a river (with a whale... of course) and an apple tree. She then insisted that I help, and together we built the rocket and space ships.

This felt creation engaged her for at least an hour or two, and I was sorry for having been sucked in by the quick fix Officeworks packet.

I wish I had the time to put into working with my girl to make a few things for "Mini-Me Handmade" at the Stitches and Craft Show. It's the opportunity for little crafters sell their handmade wares for a few hours at the show (with help from a parent).

I know the wee girl would LOVE it, and adults ALWAYS buy the things little kids make.... but I'm a bad Mummy who has other fish to fry right now.

I remember the support my Mum gave me at little markets and the local craft shop, when I was a 7-year-old with a small craft business**.... making dolls clothes and cushion covers (badly), making reasonably good soft toys (I've examned a few of them recently), sticking split peas on gift cards and drawing in the spider legs, wrapping soap in various textile creations..... My Mum patiently drove me hither and thither, bought my materials, did long days as a volunteer in the local community craft shop and always gave me confidence in what I was doing. I wish I was a bit more like her.

**I actually made all my pocket money from craft until I was about 16 (when I was too focused on sewing clothes for myself and being a girly-swot at school to bother with anything else). As you can see from the photo below (taken when I was 12) that my sewing skills far surpassed my photography skills.

In case you haven't yet downloaded the show guide to see all the goings-on at the show, here are the details for Mini Me Handmade.

Mini Me Handmade runs 10.00 am – 12.00pm on the Saturday of the Show.

The cost is $10 - inc. GST - per stall and includes entry to The Stitches & Craft Show for one child and one parent.

All items must be handmade and created by the child participating or their helpful sibling(s).
A table and chair will be provided. To assist with supervision, money handling, bathroom breaks and encouragement, every child must be accompanied by an adult.

Applications are open to children 10 years and younger.
BYO cameras.

For more information: T: 1800 770 222 E:

exhibiting@stitchesandcraft.com.au